Purdy 
R.I.P  October 1st 2012

"Peggy I have this dog..."  

Sometimes I felt like the big "S" was tattooed on my forehead.   But when the young girl that was volunteering in Ty's classroom asked me if we were interested in a dog I said "NO".  We had Emma then and she had already been burdened with competition in her old age ...  Blue,then came Chester.  Four dogs just seemed like ridiculous !  But I offered to go take a look at her and maybe help find a home...

The girl had bought "Purdy" as a 4H project and loved, trained, and cared for her.  But when the horse bug hit her, little Purdy got pushed aside and was left to spend her days on a long chain in the front yard.  When I saw that beautiful Australian Shepherd on her yard chain I decided I needed to take her home and give her a try.  Mostly I was concerned how she would get along with the gang we already had.  But she seemed to be happy to fit into the role of being submissive to the pack.  And thrilled to be able to run like the wind in every direction on our land.  She could out run all of other dogs so she would always get a head start to not be bothered by them.

Her energy was boundless. She was such a natural herding dog.  We never gave her the chance to learn how to develop those skills but she seemed to find plenty of work to do around our ranch.  Morning walks to the pond were always her favorite thing (and mine too)... crisp morning air, lovely dew drops glistening in the field, glorious colors promising another day.  She was always the first in the pond, swimming circles around the other dogs.  She was above "fetching" sticks but always made sure Chester had some competition by circling the one he was going after.

She loved to wander off looking for new adventure.  I think she probably instigated several of the Gough dog excursions which we tried our best to curtail.  But Blue, Chester and Purdy had an idea there were wonderful things on the other side of the Gough property line and until the fences where in place would always test their boundaries.  This would inevitably lead to my panic and sending out everyone searching. The gang would always saunter back with incredulous looks as if to say: "what's the problem?"   They were a happy team.  

I think she made up for those days she spent on the chain in the front yard.  She ran like that damn chain was always after her and she was never going back. She found a home with us that gave her boundless love and plenty of space to let her spirit soar.  A little nervous and always vibrating - she was not a cuddly dog.  But she was always the first to greet you with a smile and "what are we doing?" energy .  I always felt perkier when I was around Purdy. 

I'm going to miss that little girl...  There is no doubt in my mind that she was thrilled to live surrounded by the Gough kids and be a part of a loving family. A family who made sure she was always cared for and loved.   And a menagerie of animals to look after and keep her busy.  And a chain-less life to seek out her adventures. 

I hope there are boundless adventures in doggie heaven Purdy - say "hi" to Emma and Chester.

                                                                             

love you forever...

As the Sun Sets on the Zambezi

       Suzanne Zorbas Marquis R.I.P. 3/19/2010

the end of my journey in Africa... sunset over the glorious Zambezi...my eyes were open wide and i had begun a new phase of my life - a life without you.  


i could no longer pick up the phone and share the details of what i had learned -  what i had seen - with YOU.  Couldn't tell you how it compared to what we thought it would be...our 
Out of Africa.  


the rainbow on that blustery day at the Cape of Good Hope when i reached the top of the lighthouse - that first glimpse at Vic Falls Cats Cataract exposing a glorious rainbow was all i needed to know you were there - with me - as you have been every day since you left... to where ever it is you are... 


i trust it is someplace where you are dancing free of your burdens. the ones you carried so quietly on your shoulders for all of us and in the end the one you were given to carry so painfully with you daily.  


i imagine it was the most magnificent, glorious moment  - the moment when it was all clear that you were moving on and the pain no longer mattered- that you were being released from it all...on your journey to dance with the angels that you dreamed of and loved for so long.  


i know you believed that Dad and John were there with their arms open wide waiting to embrace you...and there was Me Mere, Anthony and Robert...so many - waiting.  When my time is at hand i know you will be there - as you are now...the gifts you left behind are the treasures i live with daily.


thank you my dear sweet sis you are loved

Gang-line Gals - or - Going to the Dogs

Ely, MN : gateway to the Canadian Boundary Waters (BWCAW)

outfitter: Wintergreen (Paul Schurke- Arctic Explorer :owner)

Guilds: Max Pittman and girlfriend Kate

Gals: Mary Jo, Beverly and Me

Trip: dogsledding three days and two nights, camping under the stars in the Boundary Waters...

as recorded to my family via iPhone:


Monday 2/14/2011 : Fell asleep in camp under a beautiful moon in the Canadian Boundary Waters to an orchestra of wolves...cries answered by our tethered line of Inuit Canadian dogs.  Tucked into to our -40 bags with bivy covers we managed to stay pretty cozy (key - hot water Nalgene bottle in sleeping bag about 20 min before you crawl in...).

Tuesday 2/15/2011: two skiers , one camping sled with 6 dogs , one light weight sled with four, gang line in order - we ventured out to explore. Vistas exposed many tracks -  otter, moose, the elusive wolf... from the nights frolic.  Waterfall lunch, hanging with the dogs ( who love people- but not always each other ).  Sledding is WORK!!! Often you are on big exposed lakes but also through the woods on tight trails... Pushing up hill, " ready hike ", "haw" , "gee" " hike, hike, hike", "on by", "whoa" screaming down hills riding the break...trying to keep the sled from tipping and crashing into trees, breaking up dog fights ( you know how I love that).    I have never worked so hard...another night on the tethered line for the dogs, another night of shared cries from primal comrades and sleeping under the approaching full moon .

Wed 2/16/2011: woke to a bald eagle soaring over the lake and a crystal clear blue sky. A final song from our neighboring wild pack and  our tethered line sings their response.  Packed our camp, sleds ready we set out into the "hottest weather in MN" ( Ely was 60 ...their motto: "Ely the Coolest Town in America")...  these dogs run best at about 15 and below.  We had a good 12 miles to look forward to... missing a turn off we added another three miles...  slush, ice, deep snow we moved along through beautiful country half dressed, heaving the huge camp sled ....up and over, through and around.  Glorious sun drenched day glowed on the lakes, dwarf forrest of Aspen and Balsam provide relief... sorta.  Wolf kill in the middle of lake leaves a story in tracts- more than likely a moose - we study while a bald eagle studies us from his perch above...  the day moves to early evening the " we are on the home stretch " never seems true- yet the approaching full moon sheds a glorious glow to light the way ... fear of falling through the ice on lake abates- a bit...

Suddenly the deafening sound of the home dogs cry fills the air ( we are still at least a couple of miles away...) they know their companions are returning (how is beyond me) but the excitement fills the air for all.  I have never been so exhausted ...up the hill from the lake the sight of the home dogs was exhilarating.  

What a ride

Well that's all from Ely.

http://www.dogsledding.com/

Life on the Ranch

before we bought our place we used to play at the creek down the road and imagine ourselves living on that beautiful piece of land...we thought life would be perfect if only we could find a way to make it ours -  we would be happy always - as we all know its much more complicated than that...

In Remembrance

of two very special beings that shared a time with us on our sweet little parcel

Chester

December 5, 2010
as you lie out on the porch wrapped in a warm blanket on this cold, rainy night  i am tempted by the urge to bring u in to sit with me by the warm fire i've just lit.  but u  are on a journey to a new adventure - a place u must go alone... 

i can't imagine life here without you my faithful friend

the little head nudge, the big sad brown eyes, the big fluffy tail always wagging, holding your "spot" in the kitchen, chasing the ball, the "chester dance" , fetching the stick in the pond, the " i'm so grateful for you" look that always was there for us 

" but mom i'm already attached" was theo's response after spending time with you at the gymkhana in town when you were a puppy

you were his dog but stole all our hearts - we couldn't say no - you were the puppy left abandoned by your pack on the highway set for a destination of the shelter 

we saved you from your fate you taught us all how to love just a little deeper and enjoy life just a little more

the barrage of rain continues... what a sad day 

mother nature even weeps your loss.  maybe you are just going home - back to her embrace - part of a bigger plan having served your time well here on this temporary parcel
loving, being loved, giving more than you ever received... 

but never holding a grudge always a constant reminder of unconditional love

farewell my sweet boy... you have lived well and been truly loved

Old Red

January 27, 2010

how do you say goodbye to a loved one?  there are no words to describe how sad it is without you-you grumpy old guy

you were a hero - standing your ground to steady the little girl on your back as a truck was approaching, weaving through barrels making your child feel like a champion, parading down main street with your little girl in pink chaps feeling like a princess/cowgirl, pretending to be a champion jumping horse because that's what your boy decided he wanted to be that day (you were a champion to us) when he decided a knight/warrior was the next fantasy for a couple of years (you even learned to become a jousting horse) when your boy was scared you would dip your head closer to his level and soften (as if to say "i'm here buddy it's ok")

you had a hard life prior to arriving in our care.  It took you all of the 11 years you lived with us to really finally trust - once you were sure that you would be fed, have your heard (all mares- except Mr. Darcy - but he doesn't count) , be warm in the winter (only the best blankets, stall in the rain) and cool in the summer (your muzzle always drenched in the cool water trough-you were always the one who would sneak a dip in the pond)

i always had a special place in my heart for you for taking such good care of them.  you even took care of me - keeping me buffered from the herd as they would come charging in for their evening meal unaware of anything or anyone in their path.  you knew when i was sad - i would get the soft eye from you and that special head dip too...thank you old friend i will miss you more with each memory

we were not there on the day or hours that led up to your passing.  i am hopeful that it was peaceful , that you looked up and caught the pending breeze promising a field of green, bursting with wildflowers...and along your journey you dipped your muzzle in the cool waters of the pond, looked back one last time and were content and happy to have finally been loved